What type of person is Dolphus Raymond?

Dolphus Raymond, a kind gentleman, is clearly one who marches to a different drum beat. Mr. Raymond does not conform to the code of conduct expected of him in Maycomb. He is an upper-class white man, but finds his society hypocritical, which prompts him to abandon it and live in another part of town.

Mr. Raymond finds life with the black population of Maycomb simpler and more genuine. Because his departure from the behavior that...

Dolphus Raymond, a kind gentleman, is clearly one who marches to a different drum beat. Mr. Raymond does not conform to the code of conduct expected of him in Maycomb. He is an upper-class white man, but finds his society hypocritical, which prompts him to abandon it and live in another part of town.

Mr. Raymond finds life with the black population of Maycomb simpler and more genuine. Because his departure from the behavior that is expected of him is so radical in the Jim Crow South, he pretend he is an alcoholic by swaying when he rides his horse, and by carrying a drink in a brown paper bag, as though to disguise it. In reality, his drink is nothing more than Coca-Cola. 

During the trial, when Dill cries in the courtroom at the meanness directed at Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout take him outside, and the kind Mr. Raymond offers the boy a drink from his container in the paper bag. This is when the children discover he merely drinks Coca-Cola and his behavior is just a charade. Mr. Raymond explains,

Some folks don't—like the way I live. . . I try to give'em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason. When I come to town, which is seldom, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond's in the clutches of whiskey—that's why he won't change his ways. He can't help himself, that's why he lives the way he does (Chapter 20).

Mr. Raymond tells the children his secret because they "can understand." When people rode up to the courthouse before the trial, though, Jem told Scout that Mr. Raymond is rumored to have never recovered from the suicide of his fiancée, who shot herself after their wedding rehearsal because:

They said it was because she found out about his colored woman, he reckoned he could keep her and get married, too (Chapter 16).

Despite his tragedy, Mr. Raymond takes good care of his mixed children, sending older ones to the North where they can have more opportunities.